Lyle C. Sorum

Lyle C. "Lefty" Sorum passed away peacefully Saturday, September 14, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. 

Lyle was born on September 10, 1933 in Holt, MN to Jesse and Mabel Sorum. He grew up in Holt and Grand Forks, ND. In 1951, Lyle graduated from Central High School in Grand Forks. He married Patricia Oliver in 1953. During their marriage Lyle and Pat had three children - David, Dianne, and Vicki. He married Nelda Johnson in 1978, adding stepchildren Amy, Anne, and Matt to his family. 

Lyle enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1952 and served onboard the USS Shenandoah until 1956. He went on to attend the University of North Dakota earning a B.S. in Education in 1960 and a master’s degree in marketing in 1971. Over the years he was a high school and college instructor, college and public-school administrator, banking executive and marketing consultant. He retired from Bremer Financial Corporation as Senior Vice President of Marketing in 1995. 

During his career Lyle served on many educational state boards and advisory councils in North Dakota and Minnesota. He was a member of the National Bank Marketing Association and served as president of the Minnesota Bank Marketing Association. 

Lyle had countless lifelong friends and was always quick to make new ones. Later in life he moved to Amira Roseville where he was fortunate to meet a supportive group of new friends. Lyle had a great sense of humor, and he will be remembered for his quick wit. He had a joke or story for every situation, whether appropriate or not. He loved to make people laugh! 

Lyle was always up for a game of cribbage, or any card game, especially if he could bet on it. One of the great joys of his life was food and, for Lyle, nothing compared to his sister-in-law Lois’s lefse and potato klub! He enjoyed fishing and cherished the hours he spent on the water with friends and family swapping stories. He was especially happy if he caught the “first fish,” the “biggest fish” and the “most fish”! 

Lyle was a member of the Roseville VFW Post 7555 and the Roseville American Legion Post 542. He spent many hours there enjoying the company of “a bunch of really great guys”! 

Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Mabel Sorum; sister, Jean Beauchamp (Jerry); brothers, Jerome (Lois), Ronald (Helen), John (Myrtle), Donald (Beverly); and granddaughter, Lauren Ostby. 

He is survived by his wife Nel; son David (Patti) of Rhinelander, WI; daughters, Dianne (Paul) Ostby of Fargo, ND, and Vicki (Keith) Welk of West Fargo, ND; stepchildren, Amy (Joe) Westby of Roseville, MN, Anne Johnson of Bismarck, ND, Matt (Sara) Mutzenberger of Grand Forks, ND; 13 grandchildren, Emily (Gilad) Elbom of Philomath, OR, Alissa (Nick) Adams of Fargo, ND, Nate (Jill) Ostby of West Fargo, ND, Katelyn (Jon) Morken of Bloomington, MN, Kelsey (Dan) Dardis of West Fargo, ND, Justin (Molly) Welk of Shoreview, MN, Elizabeth (William) Mangan of St Paul, MN, Rachel and Jack Westby of Roseville, MN, Levi Boehm, CO, Jake, Luke, and Wyatt Mutzenberger of Grand Forks, ND; and 13 great-grandchildren. Lyle is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many, many wonderful friends. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Amira Roseville Community Room, 2650 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 12 noon until 4 pm. 

In lieu of flowers or other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.